Let’s just say, the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck season for Ben Rhodes did not take the shape it should have. Rhodes experienced his lowest average finish (15.4) since his rookie full-time season in 2016. Additionally, he achieved only nine top-10 finishes and three top-five finishes. The statistics marked his least successful year in both categories since 2016, surely, a disappointment for Rhodes.

However, Rich Lushes, the crew chief for Ben Rhodes, swapped his position with the No. 13 of Jake Garcia. While this swap had come in as a major shocker, Rhodes’ deplorable performance was a testimony of the same. 

Ben Rhodes’ performance sees a sharp drop in numbers 

Imagine a driver who has accounted for the title in 2022 and 2023 has performed so poorly that the team had to consider swapping crew chiefs. That’s exactly the roadmap that Ben Rhodes took up. And honestly, it was shocking. Rhodes became the fifth multi-time Truck Series Champion in 2023, along with seven career Truck Series wins. All of this stemmed from the time he won at the ARCA Menards Series East Championship in 2014. 

However, it seemed as though the 2024 season was the complete opposite of how he had exhibited himself in the earlier years. The 27-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, faced an out-of-the-blue moment when his crew chief got swapped. Eight races into the season, Rhodes’ crew chief, Rich Lushes, was replaced by Doug Randolph, Jake Garcia’s crew chief. However, this partnership will continue for the 2025 season as well. Announcing the same, the post read, “Rich Lushes, a long-time crew chief at @ThorSportRacing, tells Jack Arute on @SiriusXMNASCAR that he will be partnered with @BenRhodes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2025.#NASCAR”. 

When the initial announcement came in during the season, Rhodes mentioned how it was not on the plates. He had not envisioned the same as well. Speaking of the same, he said, “The crew chief swap was something Rich, and I didn’t know about. It was on the horizon for a little bit. I think he and I still have really good communication. We can definitely win together. If the time presents itself, I think we’d both agree to work with each other again.”

For the 2021 and the 2023 seasons, Rhodes was not among the most favorable ones for the Truck Series title. However, he still managed to sweep the winner’s trophy. But in 2024, the season turned out to be deplorable, particularly because Rhodes said he could not make more changes to the truck itself. He got eliminated in the Round of 10 itself. Given that they announced the partnership well in time, the 2025 season for Ben Rhodes might be more favorable. 

When ThorSport Racing managed to win the title in 2024

Ben Rhodes’ disappointing run during the 2024 season ensured he had to bid adieu to the chances of winning a title even before the round of 8. However, this did not take away hopes for the team itself. Ty Majeski walked into the Phoenix Speedway as one of the best of the Top 4 and ended up claiming his victory trophy. This ensured that ThorSport Racing won their third title. Leading 132 out of the 150-lap race, his victory seemed smoother than butter. 

Reacting to his victory, Majeski said, “I can’t believe it. Just a huge thank you to Duke and Rhonda Thorson [ThorSport owners], Joe Shear Jr. – he’s one bad dude. This is so much fun racing with this group. So proud to have the opportunity to drive these great race trucks.”

The 2019 debutant had risen to the occasion, and how he had molded himself throughout became a sheer testimony of his resilience and on-track efficacy. 

Although he started his journey with ThorSport Racing as a part-time driver, soon, he was in a full-time stint with the team. Before Friday’s championship race, Majeski had secured five career Truck Series victories, all with ThorSport Racing, alongside an impressive 44 top-10 finishes in just 72 starts.